Officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army have vowed persistent endeavor in advancing high-quality modernization of national defense and the armed forces, after President Xi Jinping attended the commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony of the Fujian, China's first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, on Wednesday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, boarded the aircraft carrier to inspect the vessel after the ceremony at a naval port in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province.
Bearing the carrier numbered 18 on its hull, the Fujian is one of the country's three carriers currently in service. Named after Fujian Province in east China and launched in June 2022, the vessel was independently designed and built by China.
At the ceremony, Xi presented a flag of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to the captain and political commissar of the Fujian, and had a group photo taken with them.
"As the captain of China's first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, I'm confident in leading all officers and sailors of the new-type warship to sail deep into the oceans and brave high winds and choppy waters. Now our primary task is to promptly organize performance tests and examinations on the new equipment and accelerate the improvement of carrier-based aircraft's support level, so as to realize systematic team combat capability for the aircraft carrier as soon as possible. I firmly believe that following the development path charted by Chairman Xi, the Fujian will surely cleave waves in blazing brand-new courses and resolutely fulfill the missions and tasks entrusted by the Party and the people," said Chen Zhiguo, captain of the Fujian aircraft carrier.
"Chairman Xi has been very concerned about us. This time he specially came to observe our combat posts, asked questions in detail about the performance of the new-type carrier-based aircraft and the difficulties in trainings. He affirmed our guts and achievements, and encouraged us to train scientifically, diligently and safely. We will surely keep his instructions in mind, carry forward the dauntless spirit, and practice hard to sharpen the skills of driving the 'Flying Shark' (J-15 fighter) and displaying ourselves in the sea and sky," said Sun Zhengxiong, a pilot of carrier-based aircraft.
The commissioning has greatly inspired the confidence of sci-tech workers in helping achieve even greater success.
"The commissioning of the aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults marked a stunning debut of our army's new-type weaponry after the Sept. 3 grand military parade. From the one after another 'China-Made' weapons, we feel most profoundly that so long as we adhere to self-reliance and getting strong in science and technology, there is nothing that we Chinese cannot achieve. As sci-tech workers for the army, we must unswervingly pace up our independent innovation, intensify innovation efforts in emerging fields, focus on actual combats to promote the transformation and application of scientific research advances, and better empower combat capabilities with science and technology," said Cao Lu, researcher with the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.
"It is a great honor for me to attend the commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony of the Fujian aircraft carrier, and my heart is still filled with excitement.These days, what my colleagues and family members talked about most is the Fujian aircraft carrier. Everyone feels confident and proud seeing the new-type aircraft carrier entering service, and we are full of best wishes for the future development of aircraft carriers. Looking back on the rapid transformation of the Fujian aircraft carrier from a design blueprint into a steel giant, we cannot do without the leadership of the Party and the support of the country's complete industrial system. I will always remember this honor and responsibility, fulfill my duties, pursue superior workmanship, and continue contributing to forging powerful equipment for a major country," said Wu Zeren, construction inspector with China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited.
"The commissioning of the Fujian aircraft carrier marks that our army now has three carriers in service, and we are more calm and confident in dealing with complex situations and challenges and more assured in fighting to win. For our Southern Theater Command, we must comprehensively enhance the command ability for joint operations, speed up the exploration of methods and models for applying new combat forces, truly turn the country's powerful equipment into weapons for winning, promote its integration into the joint operations system in steadfastly and flexibly carrying out operations, and resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," said Fang Xin, officer with the joint staff of PLA Southern Theater Command.
Officers and men vow for high-quality modernization of armed forces
